Judaism is built on partnership: between human and God as in the many varieties of Covenant set up in our system by which we are to live. That partnership translates as how we relate with people, seeing the countenance of God in each person and situation.

Shabbat is in partnership with the Six Days of Creation and a reminder that the impact and meaning of Shabbat is reflected in the quality we bring to the six days of the week, how we partner with God and with human to bring blessings and good doings to life. Shabbat becomes the pause in time that allows us to savor life’s blessings and see how we bring Kedusha, Holiness as in memorable treasurable moments into being that we celebrate in our Shabbat pause.

Torah is in partnership with Mitzvah, that what we learn of how to translate partnership with HaShem into generating a world of Holiness…quality living is manifested in Mitzvah, responsible living in alignment with God’s Will.

Mid-May we will be celebrating all these fruits of partnership metaphorically and tangibly with the observance of the holiday of the Giving of Torah, Shavuot, we shall do with our friends and partners in Jewish life from Napa’s Beth Sholom, whom we are already privileged to host for their B’nai Mitzvah while they rebuild their building.

Shavuot night, Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 PM Beth Sholom along with their Rabbi Lee Bycel will join B’nai Israel in a co-sponsored welcoming of the holiday of the Giving of Torah. We will share in study and prayer in celebration of this holiday from which Judaism accesses its spiritual freedom and guidance system that brings the many faceted partnerships to life. Thursday, May 16, CBI will host a 2nd day of Shavuot service, celebration of Torah and the observance of Yizkor, as we do at the close of each of our Torah holidays. Then, Friday, May 17 we will launch a weekend of celebration of partnership with our neighbors from First Presbyterian Church. As we did last year, CBI will welcome Pastor Hampton Deck and his members to our Friday evening service at which time Pastor Deck will give the Drash. Sunday morning, May 19 at 10:30 we will head over to church where I will be giving the Sunday morning teaching as part of their worship service (in lieu of my scheduled adult study session). The church is also looking forward to hosting us for a celebratory meal after the service, a nice segue to the Sisterhood Mad Hatter celebration that starts at 1PM. While the Shavuot holiday is not as well known or popular as the other Pilgrimage holidays (Passover and Sukkot), it is the time of year to celebrate the fruits of learning of relationship. What a wonderful way to bring those blessings alive in sharing it with Napa’s CBS and then following up 2 days later with a visit with our neighbors from First Presbyterian.

These growing partnerships are reflective of other wonderful developments in connecting with the broader Interfaith Community and Nonprofit world as being generated through the IAF program set to launch in a big public way on Sunday June 23.

These developments are all for the good in a world that continues to reflect chaos, uncertainty and concerns for the future. When you wonder what any one person or institution can do to reverse some of the negatives in the outside world, one important response is to grow relationships with individuals and groups that share your values of responsibility and caring.

I look forward to sharing all the fruits of Shavuot with you during this coming month as a springboard for better times ahead.